To the werline electrical



(No Model.)

Patented July 5, 1892.

gJ-nvamto v ma UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

HENRY ELMER IVERLINE, OF LANCASTER, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE \VERLINE ELECTRICAL SPECIALTY COMPANY, OF

YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

INCANDESCENT-ELECTRlC-LAMP SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,149, dated July 5, 1892. Application filed December 22, 1891. Serial No.415,896. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY ELMER WEELINE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulating-Sockets for IncandescentElectricLamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates, chiefly, to electriclamp sockets provided with helical resistancesand means for cutting one or more or all of them out of circuit at will to vary the intensity of the light, the same means being also available for breaking the circuit altogether.

The objects of the said invention are to prevent distortion of the said resistances when they are being put into place, to keep them properly insulated and separated, to lessen the cost of manufacture, and to guard against too strong a current, in order that I may use for said resistances carbon in the open air, thereby saving the expense of platinum or a vacuum-chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of an electric o lamp and socket embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section through the said socket, taken on a plane above the said resistances. Figs. 3 and 4 represent in side elevation, partly in section, the resistance terminal-plates and the switch controlling them,also the supporting devices forthe same; and Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of resistances and theirsupport. Fig. 6 shows the detachable light-regulating device removed from the socket.

In said drawings, A represents the bulb of the lamp, hung downward, as is usual, though of course it may be held upright or in any other position. In this is the usual illuminating-filament a, from which wires or other electric connections a 61, extend, respectively, to a central metallic block A and a metallic shell A inclosing the neck of the said bulb, the space between the said block and shell the front of the said bar.

being filled by insulating material a The said shell is in contact with a metallic sleeve B, the two being preferably screw-threaded and thereby connected together. The said block is in contact with a metallic block or bolt-head 13, this latter part and the said 5 5 sleeve being attached to a disk C of wood or other insulating material. Two screws 0 pass through this disk, also passing first through a flange Z2 of the lower end thereof, so as to hold the said sleeve in place. They also make electrical connection between the said sleeve and the horizontal arms (Z (Z of the lower end of an upright metallic frame-piece D. This piece is L-shaped in outline, a small horizontal upper flange (Z being fastened bya screw 6 or otherwise to a second disk E, resembling the disk Caforesaid. Thescrew c orits equivalent, passing through the upper disk E, makes electrical connection between the said metallic frame-piece D and one of the circuitwires F of the lamp. The other circuit-wire F is connected by a screw 8, passing through the said disk E, with a bent plate G, the vertical arm of which is fastened by a screw 9 to an upright bar II of wood or other insulating material extending from one disk to the other. This bar is fastened at its lower end to the disk O by means of an angular plate 71 which is attached to the said bar by a screw h and to said disk by a screw 1), formed with the block or bolt-head B aforesaid. The said disks, with the frame-piece D and wooden bar II, constitute the frame of the socket. On this frame an outer shell or casing of sheet metal is fitted, consisting of a cylindrical body I and end cap .I.

The screw 71. holds to the wooden bar II a light metallic arm K, which is curved to fit the cylindrical shape of the socket. A similar arm L is attached to the said wooden bar 0 near the middle of the latter by a screw Z, which makes connection with a plate M on A short wire it of fusible material extends from one of these arms to the other. The middle part of bar II is enlarged to form a disk II, on which are fastened the said plate M and four or more additional plates 1' M M M, which are insulated from each other and arranged in a circle. A switch or regulating-button N, the inner part onlyof which is of electricallyconducting material, is provided with a flat metallic finger N, whereby it makes contact with one or another of the said plates, according to the position into which the said-switch and finger are turned. The inner end of the said switch extends through the said disk ll, formed on the bar H, and is provided with a transverse pin 07., that makes contact with the lower end of a spring-plate G,which is formed from the vertical arm of the plate G aforesaid. The lower end of this spring-arm has an opening g, which allows the end of the switch to pass through it. After the pin a is put in place the spring-plate G bears inwardly against it, so as to hold the linger N against one or another of the said plates M M M M M. The plate M has no other electrical connection. When the said finger n is in contact with it, the circuit is broken. This plate is provided with a stop n, beyond which the said finger cannot pass, to insure immediate circuitbreaking when required, since the switch need only be turned until it can turn no farther.

When the finger N is in contact with the plate M, the electrical current is at it's maximum and the light at its brightest. The circuit is then through line-wire F and screw 6 to frame-piece D, thence through screws 0, sleeve B, shell A wire a filament a, wire a, blocks A and B, and screw 1) to the plate It, thence through arm K, fusible wire 76', arm L, and screwl to the plate M, thence through finger N and the metallic inner part of the switch N to the spring-plate G and the plate G, thence through the screw 6 and the linewire F to the generator and intermediate devices, (not shown,) completing the circuit.

To provide for varying degrees of light, I employ a series of helical resistances O 0 0 of carbon, the lower end of resistance 0 being connected by a wire P with a plate P, which is connected by a screw 1) with the plate M. The other end of resistance 0 is connected by a wire P with the lower end of resistance O, and from the middle of this wire a wire 10 extends to a plate P connected by a screw 19 with the plate M. The upper end of resistance O is similarly connected with the lower end of resistance 0 by a wire Q, from i the middle part of which a wire q extends to a plate q, connected by a screw to the plate M From the upper end of the resistance O a wire extends to a plate 1", connected by a screw 1' with the plate M Of course the number of resistances may be;

varied; but for practical purposes three will suffice. The system of attachment and arrangement will be the same whatever the number.

The plates P, P q, and r are attached to the wooden bar H, but easily disconnected by removing the fastening-screws. It is best,

however, to keep these parts together, the said wooden bar and all its attachments, including the resistances, being easily inserted in the socket, using the outer non-conducting part of the switch as a handle. For such attachment or the corresponding detachment it is necessary only to insert or withdraw the screws 6 b, that fasten the disks G to the plates G and h, attached to the said bar. When this latter is out of place, the framepiece D holds the said disks in position together. The wires P, 1 ,19, Q, q, and r stiffen the resistances and tend to make them retain their positions as a whole. To make this much more effective, the horizontal parallel wires P, p, q, and r are made to pass through a transverse rigid supporting bar or stay R, preferably of glass, fused thereon. This prevents twisting and distortion of the resistances while these are being introduced into the socket or withdrawn therefrom and gives strength and fixity of form to the resistance series as a whole. The said resistances are preferably of very light porous carbon filaments having a high specific resistance as compared with electric-lamp filaments, and at the same time allowing a sufliciently large cross-section to resist ordinary mechanical injury. By reason of the low temperature due this method of construction the said resistances may be used in open air, thus reducing the size of the socket by doing away with all need for a vacuum-chamber. The cost is also greatly reduced, especially as there is no need for a platinum seal.

The fusible wire is, already described, affords an effectual guard against injury to the resistances by excessive current passing through them, as such excess will melt the said wire before it can injure the resistancecarbon. This fusible wire may be protected from the radiant heat of the resistance by a shield of mica or other non-conducting and incombustible material. When the light is to be turned down, the switch is turned so that the finger N will pass from plate M to plate M, M or M In the first case the resistance P is introduced into the circuit with its connecting wires and plate, in the second the two resistances P and P, in the third the three resistances P, P, and P, the resistance and consequent diminishing of the light proportionately increasing. The circuit in other respects remains the same as hereinbefore described. By turning the finger N to the plate M the light is extinguished altogether.

The cap-piece J is provided with a tapering tubular extension J, having an opening J in its side, so that the wires F F, which are suitably covered and twisted together, may be drawn through this aperture, if desired, as shown. Such a construction is very convenient when the lamp and socket are to be attached to a gas-fixture or other structure compelling the conductors to run outside lamp-socket, through which the terminals of the said resistances pass, the said bar not forming part of any inclosure, but being a 15 simple supporting and bracing device for the said resistances, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric -.lamp socket,a series of connected resistances composed of carbon filaments and connecting-springs, the latter 20 serving to give stiifness, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

HENRY ELMER WERLINE. Vitnesses:

GEO. A. LANE, ANDREW EICHHOLTZ. 

